Lingmai Tosses Three-Hitter as Towson Shuts Out Delaware, 1-0, in Blue Hens’ CAA Opener
March 24, 2012
• Boxscore
TOWSON, Md. -- Towson University junior righthander Katie Lingmai tossed a three-hit shutout as the Tigers edged the University of Delaware softball team, 1-0, in a pitcher’s duel Saturday afternoon at the Tiger Softball Complex.
The teams were scheduled to play two games on Saturday, but a four-hour rain delay allowed just one game to be completed. The Blue Hens and Tigers will instead play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.
Lingmai improved to 8-4 after scattering just three singles and striking out 10 batters while not issuing a walk to post her fourth shutout of the season for the Tigers, who improved to 14-13 overall and 1-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Blue Hen junior righthander Chenxi Jiao (at right) was the hard-luck loser for Delaware, which fell to 4-24-1 overall and 0-1 in league play. Jiao, who dropped to 1-10 on the year, surrendered just one earned run on two hits in six innings of work, walking six but striking out a season-high 11 batters.
The contest was scoreless in the bottom of the third, and after Haley Stueckler led off with a walk, the game was suspended due to inclement weather. Following the delay, Kelli Lyons walked and the runners then moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Hailey Balk. However Jiao responded to strike out Andrea Stevenson and Brianna Jones, keeping the Tigers off the board.
However after being held hitless through the first four innings, Towson finally broke through against Jiao in the fifth. Stueckler led off with a single, and after advancing to second on the play, she moved to third on a flyout to rightfield by Lyons. Balk then delivered an RBI single to right, driving home Stueckler with the only run of the contest. Jiao bounced back to again retire Stevenson and Jones on strikeouts, keeping the Blue Hens within a run.
Delaware attempted to respond in the top of the sixth when Alicea Coy singled with two outs, but Lingmai got Lara Andrews to pop out to first to end the inning. Gina Knutson singled to right with two outs in the seventh to give the Blue Hens a final chance, before Lingmai struck out Marisa Newman swinging to complete the shutout.
Back To Softball Home Softball Story Archive
